The Joined Up Writing Podcast

My New Book - out April 21st, 2026!

REAL WRITERS NEVER QUIT: What hundreds of authors reveal about not giving up
https://mybook.to/realwritersneverquit

This week on The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined once again by author Nikki Moore, returning to the show on the eve of a major milestone.

After years of traditional publishing with HarperCollins, Nikki has taken the leap into self-publishing with her brand new novel Magical Beginni...

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My new book on Writing - REAL WRITERS NEVER QUIT: What hundreds of authors reveal about not giving up is currently available to pre-order at a special pre-release only price  of £2.99/$3.99 and, for UK listeners, you can buy a special signed paperback version with limited edition postcard and bookmark - RIGHT NOW!

Buy limited edition signed paperback here

Pre-order Kindle version here

In this episode...

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, Wayne Kelly welcomes back award-winning author Margot Douaihy.

Margot first appeared on the show when her debut crime novel Scorched Grace introduced readers to Sister Holiday – a chain-smoking, tattooed nun with a punk past and a talent for solving crimes.

Now Margot returns to talk about the latest instalment in the series, Divine Ruin, and how the character – and the world around her – h...

This week on The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by bestselling psychological thriller author Lesley Kara, whose debut novel The Rumour became a Sunday Times bestseller and was later adapted for television.

We talk about her latest novel, Troublemaker, a tense psychological thriller set in Tunbridge Wells, and explore how grief, vulnerability and doubt shape both her characters and her storytelling.

Lesley shares:

• The real-life in...

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by Dan Howarth, returning for his third appearance on the show.

We talk about Lionhearts, a brutal, timely novel that sits somewhere between social realism and psychological horror. Dan discusses the real-world event that sparked the story, why he chose to write from inside the head of an angry, dispossessed protagonist, and the risks of tackling themes like online radicalisatio...

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast I chat with bestselling author Lulu Taylor about her new novel A Legacy of Secrets, her long career in commercial fiction and why she loves writing sweeping, gothic-tinged family sagas. We dig into the craft behind dual timelines, the challenges of discovery writing and how her background as a fiction editor shaped the way she approaches story structure and character.

Lulu also talks candid...

This week I’m joined by bestselling fantasy author and BookTok favourite, Rebecca Thorne, to talk about her newly republished novel This Gilded Abyss. We get into the origins of the book, how she built its eerie underwater world, and why she wanted to step away from cosy fantasy and write something darker and more intense. Rebecca also speaks honestly about her path from eight years of traditional rejection to rapid indie success, ...

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Hi, I’m Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.

In this episode I’m joined by Alan Green, debut author of Sound Advice, a fascinating book that digs into the hidden life lessons of 1980s pop music. Alan shares how redundancy aft...

Want to find out more about my critique group and writing community - Momentum Circle? Check it out here - wkwproductions.co.uk/mentoring

This week I’m joined by Tom Cox, author of fifteen books spanning fiction, memoir, and journalism. Tom’s work blends the folkloric and the surreal with an eye for human nature and the landscapes that inspire him. His latest novel, Everything Will Swallow You, is out now and continues his explorati...

Hi, I’m Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.

This week I’m joined by Stefan Mohamed, author of The House on Utopia Way. Stefan has published award-winning YA and speculative fiction, but in this conversation we dive into his surreal, cyberpunk-noir detective novel, and the winding road that took him from traditional pu...

Niloufar Lamakan on Persistence, Late Starts, and Age-Positive Fiction

My guest this week is debut novelist Niloufar Lamakan, whose rom-com Aged to Perfection celebrates older protagonists and smashes stereotypes about women over 60. We talk about Niloufar’s unexpected path into writing via a creative writing course, the determination it took to push through 42 rejections before landing a publishing deal, and why comedy needs emotio...

Hi, I’m Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.

This week, I’m chatting to author Alex Starritt, whose latest novel Drayton and Mackenzie is an ambitious, thought-provoking exploration of friendship, purpose, and modern life. We talk about the challenges of writing a big, literary novel spanning over a decade of social and politica...

Take a look here to see how I can help you publish your book!

In this week’s episode, I chat to author and illustrator Gemma Denham, whose debut adult novel The Storm is a gripping locked-room mystery set in the Lake District. We talk about Gemma’s fascinating path from children’s book illustrator to crime writer, why she made the switch, and how a personal 40-before-40 challenge helped her finally write her first novel.

We also dig ...

Take a look here to see how I can help you publish your book!

This week’s guest is the brilliant Russ Litten – author, screenwriter, editor and long-time writer-in-residence in prisons across the UK. We discuss his latest novel The Crime Writer, a gritty, compelling story inspired by his first-hand experiences working with inmates on their life stories.

Russ shares insights on the blurred line between fact and fiction, why authentici...

Take a look here to see how I can help you publish your book!

In this episode of The Write Place, I chat with Northern Irish author Hannah King about the creative process behind her gripping second novel, The Blind Spot. We talk about dual timelines, writing from a child’s perspective, and how to keep readers turning the page. Hannah shares her journey from creative writing student to published novelist, her experience as a legal tr...

Hi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Hannah Murray – a seasoned radio and TV presenter, passionate book lover, and co-host of the Marbella with Him and Her podcast. Based in Marbella, Spain, Hannah brings a wealth of experience from over two decades in broadcasting, inclu...

In this week’s episode I’m joined by author, playwright and journalist Stephen Spotswood, who's here to talk about Dead in the Frame, the latest instalment in his 1940s-set mystery series featuring sleuthing duo Pentecost and Parker.
Stephen shares the inspirations behind the series—drawing on golden age mysteries, hardboiled noir, and classic radio dramas—and explains how the fifth book sees a shake-up in the usual dynami...

🎧 The Write Place Podcast – Episode 241
Guest: Natalie Chandler – Author of The Voices

Hi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world. And this week’s guest is no exception…

Natalie Chandler joins me to talk about her new psychological thriller, The Voices – her third novel and her first hardback release. We chat about th...

The Call Back is currently only £3.99/$3.99! Check it out here.

Hi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by crime writer Roxie Key to discuss her brilliant debut novel The Deadly Spark, a character-driven blend of psychological suspense and police procedural.

We get i...